Film star Ian McKellen apologized after suggesting that Bryan Singer and Kevin Spacey allegedly abused people because they were closeted.

McKellen, who came out as gay in 1988, made the controversial comments during an interview for the #QueerAF podcast that was taped in front of a live audience.

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“With the couple of names you mentioned of people I worked with, both of them were in the closet,” McKellen said on the episode last month. “Hence all their problems as people and their relationship with other people. If they had been able to be open about themselves and their desires, they wouldn’t have started abusing people in the way they’re being accused.”

The remark garnered backlash, and McKellen, 79, issued his apology early Saturday.

“As part of an extended podcast recently, I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn’t abuse others. That, of course, is wrong,” McKellen said in a statement shared to Twitter.

“My intention was to encourage the LGBT audience I was addressing, to be proud and open about their sexuality. In doing so, my point was clumsily expressed,” he continued. “I would never, ever trivialise or condone abuse of any kind.”

Spacey, meanwhile, is accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen men. The first accusation against him came from actor Anthony Rapp, who accused Spacey of climbing on top of him in bed when he was 14 and Spacey was 26.

McKellen concluded his statement Saturday, “When it comes to abuse by people in positions of power, the correct response is clear. The accusers must be heard and the accused given the opportunity to clear their names. If the accusations prove credible, the abuser’s access to power should be removed.”